Zhang, Xuan (2025) Coordination and optimization of prefabricated building supply chain for sustainability development. PhD thesis, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong.
Abstract
Sustainability is always one of the key issues during the development of prefabricated buildings. Sufficient efforts have been made to increase building sustainability from the perspectives of supply chain coordination and optimization. However, most of them focus on two-echelon prefabricated building supply chains which only consist of contractors and manufacturers. This thesis proposes coordinating and optimizing four-echelon supply chains consisting of designers, manufacturers, transporters, and contractors to fully and extensively explore the potential of sustainability improvement of building life cycles. To achieve it, this thesis proposes efficient supply chain coordination frameworks for green design optimization, green component delivery, and enhanced sustainability monitoring. Several Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based systems are correspondingly developed as well. First, a feasible Large Language Model (LLM)- powered multi-agent system is developed for dynamic and interactive DOP formulation and parametric design optimization. Second, with the well-defined DOP, an improved generative design algorithm is proposed to mathematically explore design space given that LLM may arise hallucination and lack of robustness. The algorithm is compiled into a generic dynamo package for practical application. Third, an automated component delivery management system in the form of Revit plugin is developed to coordinate and manage offsite prefabrication, delivery, and onsite construction activities in an ever-changing environment. Finally, an Earned Value Method (EVM)-based monitoring system in Navisworks is developed to facilitate automated cost and carbon control and management during offsite prefabrication, delivery, and onsite construction. Any changes in design and delivery plans occurring in these processes will be considered to update the planned value of EVM. We use an illustrative example of a threestorey office building to demonstrate the application of the proposed systems and validate their functions
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Zhang, Xueqing |
| Index terms: | construction activity, building life cycle, designer, office building, parametric design, onsite, building information modelling, package, prefabrication, prefabricated building, coordination, building sustainability, monitoring, planned value, large language model, manufacturer, management system, generative design, design optimization, multi-agent system |
| Subjects: | design methods, control systems, profession, artificial intelligence, data science, financial and cost management, sustainability and energy, management, information systems, practitioner, construction type, construction operations, contractual arrangements, design process, asset management, building construction |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Cost Management, Roles and Professions, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Site Management, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here